NEWS!

I have started to work on an update to REX Release 4.9 that can make use of REX...stay tuned. My goal is to support 4 different option roms and ram images associated with each RAM bank.

March 4, 2015: Well my V3 boards arrived today. All appears fine with them. I built one up and verified that it adds about 3mA of current draw. Seems like it is ready to roll!

When my latest boards arrive, I will verify the current consumptions, and complete the testing.

Test results: Feb 13
One question that was worth exploring: How much current is needed to overdrive RAMRST?
This question arises because the technique used to disable the internal ram is to
pull RAMRST high using a diode to +5V.
ANSWER I measured the current to be 1.8 mA in my M100.
So, this all comes together now. QUAD draws about 3mA of current, and 1.8mA of that is
associated with disabling the internal RAM.

Feb. 13, 2015: To pick up all the board changes, I've sent a new artwork to the board shop. It will take about a month to get to a point where, if all goes well, QUAD can be released. Thanks for your patience!

Test results: Feb 12
after some fiddling, and 5 barnacles, I have a pretty good result.
Basic M100 for reference, power supply current = 56.2mA
same M100 with QUAD installed = 59.2 mA
The standby current is still < 1uA.
So that's better than my other 2 ram expansions by quite a bit.
M100 with 32k PG designs = 63 mA
M100 with 64k PG designs = 86 mA

This is in beta still; not quite ready to release. I have some software testing to do,
and a couple more hardware things to look at..
Also, while QUAD is compatible with REX, I have not implemented support for it yet in REXMGR. TBD.

February 8 2015 - Some good progress made; all functions appear to be working well.

did some power measurements. QUAD increased the current consumption of the M100 by ~20 mA. It would be nicer if it was less of an impact as this would decrease battery life by ~30%. So, I'm going to investigate where the current is going and if it can be reduced.

Supported Models

Model 100 only

Features

QUAD is a hardware add-on for the Model 100 that provides the user with 4 banks of 32kB, similar to the multiple banks in a T200 or PC-8201.

plugs directly into the system bus with no additional modifications (takes over the socket - replaces any other system bus device)

this module REPLACES the internal memory - the internal RAM becomes unused/disabled (any plugged 8kB RAM modules can be pulled out and redeployed)

uses the internal NiCd RAM backup battery for reliable operation

simple software for manual bank switching

OR - use 0QUAD - a menu enhancement for M100 (see description below)

How to Get One

Contact Club100. Club100 is the source for this device, as well as REX, and the T200 RAM module.

Overview

It is pretty simple really - just plug it in, and begin using it.

use the simple program to bank switch manually

use 0QUAD software - OQUAD integrates a number of features into the M100 MENU

use with REX (don't use OQUAD when REX is installed! NOT COMPATIBLE!!!)

TIPS

Power cycling the M100 will always reset QUAD to bank 1.

Hardware Installation

Installation of the hardware is a piece of cake.

Step 1

Flip over the M100. Open up the System Bus hatch.
Being careful to have the right orientation, insert QUAD into the System Bus.
The arrow points to the Option ROM Socket.

Step 2

Replace the cover. Flip the M100 back over.

Done!

QUAD installed in an M100 -

Power Consumption

Adding QUAD to your M100 adds 2-3 mA of current consumption. This is mostly attributed to the current needed to overdrive the A* buffered signal, which allows the external RAM module to function.

The SRAM on QUAD is backed up by the internal NiCd. Removing QUAD will erase all memory contents, so don't do that unless you are ok with losing the contents.

The SRAM consumes < 1uA of current typically from the NiCd, and so will have a small and mostly negligible effect on backup time. However I have not tested this.

Software for Using the Extra Banks

You will need some software to make the extra banks accessible. You have 3 options, all of which are exclusive of each other.

1. Use the simple bank switching program below.
2. Use QUAD.BA
3. Use in conjunction with REX

Simple Bank Switching Program

The following program can be quickly typed into BASIC and run. It allows manual bank switching. In each bank, you could save this program and call it BANK1.BA, BANK2.BA etc. (the number relating to bank number), so that you know what bank you are in. Kudos to Ken Pettit for helping me figure this one out!

0QUAD : Advanced MENU add-on for QUAD

0QUAD is a software program closely based on the PG Designs 0MENU software. I am grateful that some clever people figured out how to do this in the past, and I'm happy to have been able to revive the code and modify it for use with QUAD.

Installing 0QUAD Software

0QUAD should be installed in each of the 4 banks of QUAD.

0QUAD starts life named as QUAD.BA.

IMPORTANT: QUAD.BA is the original file name. After installation, this program is transformed into 0QUAD.
0QUAD is an invisible .BA program without an extension and when installed it is hidden from view.

Use INVISO.BA after QUAD.BA is installed to make 0QUAD visible.
INVISO.BA can transform invisible 0QUAD to visible QUADv.BA.
INVISO.BA can transform visible QUADv.BA to invisible 0QUAD.

INVISO.BA and QUAD.BA are contained in the ZIP file above.

Step 1

Power on M100 with QUAD freshly installed. Do a cold restart to ensure RAM is clean.

Step 2

Load QUAD.BA into laptop. Cursor over to QUAD.BA and press ENTER to run the program.
As you are now in Bank 1, when queried by QUAD.BA, input <1> <ENTER> when prompted.

QUAD.BA configures itself, deletes unneeded program lines, renames itself 0QUAD, hides itself, and moves itself to be the lowest .BA program in RAM. All these steps are critical for 0QUAD to work correctly.

At this point, 0QUAD installation is not complete.

Step 3

At MENU, type <0QUAD> <ENTER>. This starts and runs the hidden program 0QUAD.

You should now see a number of changes to MENU

- bank number shown in top right corner
- file size/free ram indicator in top line
- FNKEY commands on line 8

Using 0QUAD, you can now select any of banks 2, 3 or 4.
Repeat the installation of QUAD.BA in each of those banks.

To enable bank to bank file COPY, you must have 0QUAD fully installed in both the source and target banks.

Deinstalling 0QUAD Software

To remove 0QUAD please follow these steps. You will need the program INVISO.DO.

IMPORTANT: be sure to EXIT from 0QUAD or QUADv before you delete it!

From any bank that has 0QUAD installed and operating-

Step 1

Press <F8> to EXIT 0QUAD.

Step 2

Load INVISO.DO and run it in BASIC. When prompted, type <V> <ENTER>.
This will transform the hidden program 0QUAD into QUADV.BA.

NOTE: at this point, you could run QUADV.BA and use INVISO.DO to hide the program again.

Step 3

In BASIC, you can now delete QUADV.BA.

0QUAD/QUADV.BA are now removed from the bank. Repeat in each bank as needed.

OQUAD Source Code

The following files are ZIP files containing the source code for QUAD by Revision.